With the transaction costs of selling and purchasing a property, you may find yourself losing money if you sell any earlier - in a market that is growing. It is an even worse proposition, when costs are dropping.

2. By shoring up your credit start.

You must be sure your credit history is as clean as possible, since you probably will have to get a mortgage to purchase a house. Get copies of your credit report a couple of months before you begin house hunting. Make sure that the facts are right, and repair any problems you find.

3. Intention for a house you can definitely manage.

The guideline is that you could purchase home that runs about two-and-one half times your annual salary. But you will do better to use among the many calculators available online to get a much better handle on your income, debts, and expenses change what you are able to afford.

4. You may qualify for a loan, if you can not put down the normal 20 percent.

5. In many regions, this guidance applies even if you do not have school-age youngsters.

6. Try to find an exclusive buyer broker, if possible, who'll have your interests at heart and can assist you during the bid procedure with strategies.

7. Select between rate and points.

When deciding on a mortgage, you generally have the option of paying additional points -- a piece of the interest which you pay at close -- in exchange for a lesser rate of interest. It is generally a much better deal to choose the points -- say three if you stay in the home for an extended time.

8. Never to be mistaken with pre qualification, which is founded on a cursory review of your financing, pre-approval from a lender is dependant on debt, your real income and credit history.

9. Research your options before offering.

Your opening bid should be according to the sales tendency of similar dwellings in the area. Before making it, contemplate sales of similar houses in the past three months.

10. Sure, a house assessment will be required by your lender anyhow. But that is only the means of discovering whether the house would be worth the price you have agreed to pay of the bank. In doing dwelling surveys in the place where you're purchasing individually, you should hire your own home inspector, rather an engineer with expertise. His / her job will be to point out possible difficulties which could require expensive repairs in the future. Saratoga Homes El Paso